Bohol town mayor killed; husband is prime suspect

Photo: Pexels
Photo: Pexels

The mayor of Bien Unido town in Bohol was killed Wednesday allegedly by her husband over personal problems, police said.

Authorities are now conducting search and retrieval operations to find the body of Mayor Gisela Boniel, who was shot dead and then dumped at sea by a group of men Wednesday, allegedly led by her husband Niño Rey Boniel.

Police on Thursday arrested the husband, a Bohol Provincial Board Member, as the primary suspect behind the killing, said Police Regional Office-7 Chief Noli Taliño.

Investigation showed that the couple experienced personal problems, police said. Niño Rey Boniel, however, denied the allegations.

Ethan Boniel, the suspect’s cousin, said Niño Rey shot the mayor using his own gun.

He told police that after Niño Rey shot his wife, he and several others put her body inside a net and tied it to a 30-kilo rock. He then drove the boat to Caubian Island in Cebu to dump the body.

He said he helped his cousin execute the crime as he was indebted to the provincial official.

Police reports indicate that the mayor was first kidnapped by her husband and several others inside a dive camp in Bien Unido.The slain town chief was at the time with a female friend, Angela Leyson.

The slain town chief was at the time with a female friend, Angela Leyson.

On Wednesday, men allegedly tried to enter the spa where the mayor was staying. Leyson, meanwhile, said she was tortured by the men and was forced to board a vehicle so she could go to Tubigon town, then ride a fastcraft to Cebu.

Taliño said witnesses saw the Mayor being asked to board a pump boat. From there, gunshots were heard.

As of this posting, investigators were on Caubian Island in Mactan to verify reports that the Mayor’s body was dumped there.

This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is republished with permission. 



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